Golf club grip for shafts with diametral variations



E. B. LAMKIN ETAL 3,360,264

Dec. 26, 1967 GOLF CLUB GRIP FOR SHAFTS WITH DIAMETRAL VARIATIONS FiledNov. 2, 1964 INVENTORS ELVER B. LAMKIN ROBERT E. LAM KIN FREDERICK G.REST United States Patent 3,360,264 GOLF CLUB GRIP FDR SHAFTS WITHDIAMETRAL VARIATIONS Elver B. Lamkin, Chicago, Robert E. Lamkin, DownersGrove, and Frederick G. Rest, Chicago, Ill., assignors to LarnlrinLeather Company, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a

corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,192 5 Claims.(Cl. 273--81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An end cap-which is threadedonto an underlisting which is affixed about a shaft, for closing theopening in the butt end of the shaft.

This invention relates to golf club grips and more particularly itrelates to a cap for closing the opening in the butt end of a golf clubgrip.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use with golf clubgrips of the type constructed of a molded rubber underlisting, orsleeve, which is covered by a leather gripping surface. In the past,underlistings have been fabricated with a closed end so that onceassembled on the shaft of a golf club no further steps need be taken toclose the open end of shaft. Such an arrangement has severalapparentadvantages, but it also has the disadvantage'of being difficult to placeon a shaft. It is found that the relative inextensibility of the leathergripping surface which covers the underlisting tends to force the rubberunderlisting against the sharp edge of the end of the golf clubshaft,'there'by making it extremely difficult to slide the grip over theend of the shaft.

In view of the difficulties experienced with underlisting with closedends, it has generally been'the practice to use an underlisting withopen ends. A starter in the form of an expander of some type may then beused to provide a gradually increasing diameter for the underlisting andto cover the sharp edge of the end of the shaft. The opening in the endof the underlisting allows the removal of the starter once the grip isin place.

Since the grip end of the shaft is open when this grip construction isused, a cap or the like is generally used to close the end -of theshaft. In the past, these caps have assumed various configurations, andnumerous methods have been employed to secure the cap to the end of theshaft. Each has, however, been generally unsatisfactory, for one reasonor another, and considerable efforts have been made to provide asatisfactory cap, as well as a method for securing the cap to the end ofthe shaft. For example, to mention only a few of the undesirablefeatures of these caps, in the past the caps have been formed in theshape of a mushroom, having an enlarged head and a smaller tail portion.The tail portion corresponded in size with the shaft and, in some cases,it was force fitted into the end of the shaft and, in other cases, itwas merely adhesively sealed therein. In still other cases, the tailportion was threadably received in the shaft by means of threads on theinterior of the shaft and on the exterior of the tail portion. In theformer cases, the cap usually becomes dislodged after a short period ofuse and is thereforunsatisfactory. In the latter case, the cost ofthreading the interior of the shaft so as to receive the threaded tailportion is prohibitive. In still another case, a wooden plug was forcedinto the end of the shaft and a cap was then secured to the wooden plugby means of a wood screw which was threaded into the wooden plug. Thisarrangement, like the arrangement first mentioned above, isunsatisfactory since the wooden plug would also 3,360,264 Patented Dec.26, 1967 become dislodged eventually and hence the overlying cap wouldfall off the end of the shaft.

In addition to the above mentioned unsatisfactory characteristics of theprior caps and the prior methods for securing them to the end of theshaft, none of them provided an effective means for terminating thegripping surface nor are they adaptable to accommodate the normalvariations in shaft sizes or to the expedients which may be used toprovide an over-size grip.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved golfclub grip.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a golf club griphaving improved means for terminating the grip end of the golf clubshaft.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod for securing a cap to the end of a golf club grip.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedgolf club 'grip having a cap which is adapted to accommodate the normalvariations in shaft size. In this respect, it is further contemplatedthat the cap will accommodate the normal expedients which may be used toprovide an over-size grip.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedgolf club grip having a cap which may be fabricated of any suitablematerial, for durability and/ or decoration.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedgolf club grip. of the type having an open ended rubber underlistingcovered with a gripping surface of appropriate material and a cap; thecap being effective to terminate the gripping surface, as well as theend of the shaft.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedgolf club grip of the type having an open-end underlisting covered witha gripping surface of appropriate material which grip is easilymanufactured at a relatively small cost. In this respect, it is furthercontemplated that the underlisting and the cap may be both molded of thesame or different materials.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relationof one or more of such steps with respect surface material covers theunderlisting. A cap which may be of the same material as theunderlisting has internal threads which are adapted to threadablyreceive the threaded reduced diameter section, The threads on the capare formed with considerable diametral clearance so as to accommodatethe normal variation of shaft size and also oversize grips. Theunderside of the cap is also undercut so as to provide a conicalperiphery which gathers andholds the upper edge of the gripping surfacematerial. This conical periphery also functions to center the cap" onthe underlisting.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection, with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side plan view of a golf club grip,

partially sectioned to show its interior construction, which isexemplary of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, partially sectioned view 3 of the golf clubgrip of FIG. 1, illustrating the construction of the cap and theunderlisting; and

FIGURE 3 is a partially sectioned view illustrating how the cap isremovably secured to the golf club.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a golf club grip exemplary of the presentinvention is shown in assembled fashion on the grip end of a golf clubshaft 12 (only partially shown). The grip 10 includes an underlisting14, in the form of a tapered, open-ended tube or sleeve. Theunderlisting 14 may be fabricated of any moldable material, however, itis preferably of soft rubber material. A gripping surface material 16covers the underlisting 14 and, in the embodiment described, isfabricated of leather. Other materials may, however, be used if desired.The grip 10 is terminated at the butt end of the club by means of a cap18.

The gripping surface material 16 may be applied to the underlisting 14,and both assembled on the shaft, in any suitable manner. For example, asindicated above, the grip 10 may be slipped onto the shaft 12 by meansof a starter in the form of an expander inserted within the underlisting14, to provide a gradually increasing diameter for the underlisting andto cover the sharp edge of the end of the shaft 12. The starter isremoved after the grip is in place, through the opening in the end ofthe underlisting.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be noted that the underlisting 14 has a reduceddiameter portion 20 having external threads 22 formed thereon, and thatthe cap 18 has a threaded cavity 26 formed therein, the threads 28 ofwhich are adapted for engagement with the threads 22 formed on thereduced diameter section 20 on the underlisting 14.

The threads 28, as may be best seen in FIG. 3, have a substantial depthand are formed so as to have a diametral clearance of approximately 20thousandths of an inch from the threads 22. The depth of the threads 28and the diametral clearance between the threads 22 and 28 accommodatesthe normal variations in shaft sizes, since there is sufficient overlapon the threads 22 and 28' to still retain a firm threaded engagement inthe case of a smaller shaft and there is sufficient diametral clearanceto allow the underlisting 14, and hence threads 22, to be stretchedtransversely in the case of a larger shaft. The cap 18 can therefore beof a standard size, and still be usable on shafts of both the standardsize and those having normal variations in size, without having tomodify it. It will therefore be appreciated that considerable savingsmay be realized, since only caps of a standard size need be provided.

A still further advantage provided by the diametral clearance betweenthe threads 22 and 28 is that the expedients normally used to provide anoversize grip can be accommodated, without having to provide a speciallymodified cap. For example, one such expedient is to wrap one or morelayers of adhesive tape or the like about the shaft 12 to, in effect,transversely stretch the underlisting 14. As indicated above, thethreads 22 and 28 automatically compensate for this difference in size,hence the same cap can be used. In this respect, additional savings canbe realized.

The underlisting 14 has a beveled edge 24 and the underside of the cap18 is undercut so as to provide a conical peripheral surface 30 which isadapted to matingly engage the beveled edge 24. As may be best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the gripping surface material 16 is arranged'at its upperend to overlap the beveled edge 24 so that the end is gathered, pressedand securely retained between the beveled edge 24 and the conicalperipheral surface 30, when the cap 18 is threaded onto the underlisting14; The cap 18 co-acting with the underlisting 14 therefore provides aneffective means for terminating, or securing, the end of the grippingsurface material 16, and hence it is unnecessary to secure the end, bymeans of an adhesive or the like, as in the past.

The beveled edge 24 and the conical peripheral surface 30 mate with oneanother and therefore also cooperate, or coact, to center the cap 18 onthe end of the shaft 12. Without this arrangement, the cap 18 couldshift transversely to the shaft 12 because of the diametral clearancebetween the threads 22 and 28, leaving a rough ridge on one side of thegrip 10. The fact that the cap 18 could shift transversely to the shaft12 also gives a flexible, rather than a firm, feel to the grip 10 andthis likewise, is an undesirable feature. With the above describedarrangement, the cap 18 is held in a fixed position, thus giving thedesired firm feel to the grip 10.

The cap 18 may be fabricated of any suitable material, for durabilityand decoration, and is preferably proportioned so that the top surface34 of the threaded cavity 26 firmly engages the end of the shaft 12 whenthe cap 18 is threaded onto the threaded reduced diameter portion 20 ofthe underlisting 14. This construction assists in providing the firmfeel of the grip 10, since the cap 18 is, in addition, firmly supportedlongitudinally by the shaft 12. The side wall 36 of the cap 16 isslightly tapered and its diameter substantially corresponds to theoverall diameter of the shaft 12, the underlisting 14 and the grippingsurface material 16, so that a smooth substantially flush joint iseffected about the periphery of the grip 10, as illustrated. The cap 18has a convex-shaped top 38 which joins the side wall 36 so as to providesmooth curved surface.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction Withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A grip for golf club shafts having normal diametral variationscomprising, in combination: an elongated openended tube of anelastically expandable material adapted to be force-fitted on saidshafts ends and having a reduced diameter portion at its one end whichhas threads formed thereon; a gripping surface material formed aboutsaid tube; and a cap having a cavity formed therein which substantiallycorresponds in size with said reduced diameter portion and which iscorrespondingly threaded, the threads having sufficient depth and thediametral clearance between the threads on the cap and the tube beingsufiicient to accommodate shaft diametral variations. said cap beingthreaded onto said reduced diameter portion of said open-ended tube toclose the open end thereof and to close the end of said golf club shaft.

2. The grip of claim 1 further including a beveled edge formed about theperiphery of said tube; and a corresponding conical peripheral surfaceformed in the underside of said cap, said beveled edge and said conicalperipheral surface cooperating to align said cap on the end of saidshaft.

3. The grip of claim 2, wherein said gripping surface material isoverlapped on said bevel edge and said cap fixedly secures saidoverlapped end through the cooperative action of said beveled edge andsaid conical peripheral surface.

4. The grip of claim 3, wherein the outside diameter of said capsubstantially corresponds to the overall diameter of the combination ofsaid shaft, said tube and said surface, so that a smooth, substantiallyflush joint or surface is provided on said grip.

between said threads.

5 6 5. The grip of claim 1, wherein a diametral clearance 2,084,5686/1937 White 220-39 X of approximately 20 thousandths of an inch isprovided 2 03 12/1937 Brisick 5 FOREIGN PATENTS References C'ted 522,528 4/1936 Australia. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1925 Kraeutel- 273 31 5ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

3/1925 Armstrong 27381 I 4/1928 Nethefland 215 43 DELBERT B. LOWE,Examznel. 10/ 1933 Barrett 27381 10 G. J. MARLO, R. J. APLEY, AssistantExaminer.

1. A GRIP FOR GOLF CLUB SHAFTS HAVING NORMAL DIAMETRAL VARIATIONSCOMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN ELONGATED OPENENDED TUBE OF ANELASTICALLY EXPANDABLE MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE FORCE-FITTED ON SAIDSHAFTS'' ENDS AND HAVING AS REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION AT ITS ONE ENDWHICH HAS THREADS FORMED THEREON; A GRIPPING SURFACE MATERIAL FORMEDABOUT SAID TUBE; AND A CAP HAVING A CAVITY FORMED THEREIN WHICHSUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDS IN SIZE WITH SAID REDUCED DIAMETWE PORTION ANDWHICH IS CORRESPONDINGLY THREADED, THE THREADS HAVING SUFFICIENT DEPTHAND THE DIAMETRAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE THREADS ON THE CAP AND THE TUBEBEING SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE SHAFT DIAMETRAL VARIATIONS, SAID CAPBEING THREADED ONTO SAID REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION OF SAID OPEN-ENDEDTUBE TO CLOSE THE OPEN END THEREOF AND TO CLOSE THE END OF SAID GOLFCLUB SHAFT.